As the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes over the real universe, we decided to take a look at some aspects of the Marvel World you may not be familiar with. How many of these facts did you know?
1. When Robert Downey Jr. was in high school, he was once suspended for tearing a classmate's comic book to pieces and calling him a "nerd." The comic book? The Invincible Iron Man.
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2. Famous loner Wolverine has actually been on more super teams than any other Marvel character.
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3. It was revealed in the 1980s that Peter Parker, Spider-Man's secret identity, grew up at 20 Ingram Street in Forest Hills, Queens.
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That address, in real life, has been owned by an actual Parker family since 1974.
4. Vin Diesel recorded all his "I am Groot" lines over 1,000 times in multiple languages in order for his voice to fit the role around the world.
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He said "I am groot" in Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese, German, and French, all while wearing stilts to get a feel for the character's height.
5. Iron Man's suit is made up of roughly 450 separate pieces.
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6. Natalia Romanova, also known as Black Widow, is still a super hottie thanks to a variation of the super-soldier serum.
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She's actually 70 years old though. Da-yum.
7. Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America three times before the producers eventually convinced him to accept it.
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8. Mark Ruffalo had to leave to the premiere of The Avengers early because his four-year-old daughter was so terrified of her father's onscreen transformation into the Hulk. We don't blame her!
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9. For Thor: The Dark World, there were over 30 Mjölnirs (Thor's hammer) created.
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10. Michael Jackson tried to buy Marvel Comics in the early 90s. He was planning to produce and star in a Spider-Man movie that never happened. Wouldn't that be crazy?
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11. Deadpool originated as a spoof of DC Comic's Deathstroke. That's why Deadpool's real name, Wade Wilson, is so similar to Deathstroke's, Slade Wilson.
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12. A body double was used for Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger for the scenes where he's skinny.
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Digital technology was utilized in order to erase Evans' body in order to create the allusion of a tiny, tiny version of the actor.
13. Red Skull, Captain America's nemesis, was created after Joe Simon noticed the cherry on his ice cream sundae resembled a skull. Such delicious beginnings for such an evil guy, no?
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14. The chemicals from the blue make-up used to transform Rebecca Romijn into Mystique caused her to yak blue vomit all over Hugh Jackman after taking a tequila shot.
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The celebrations on the final day of the first film were a little tainted by it.
15. In 1987, Spider-Man married Mary Jane. To coincide with the nuptials, Marvel held a press event featuring live-action versions of the characters getting married at Shea Stadium.
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16. Cyclops' eyes function as a portal to another dimension that generates the energy used for his optic blasts. He's also immune to his powers, which is why he doesn't blast his own eyelids off.
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17. Marvel evaded a law raising taxes on toys based on humans by claiming the X-Men toys were mutants, not humans. Clever, clever!
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18. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Falcon's flight gear has a Stark Industries logo on it.
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19. The Punisher was originally created as an adversary for Spider-Man before getting his own standalone comic in 1986.
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20. Believe it or not, the richest superhero is not the incredibly wealthy Tony Stark (Iron Man); it's actually Black Panther. He has 5 times Stark's fortune, $500 billion.
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21. When Stan Lee initially pitched Spider-Man, his publishers thought it would fail because nobody wants to see a teenage hero (and, obvi nobody likes spiders).
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The first issue quickly became one of Marvel's highest-selling comics.
22. Captain America is one of the few people able to use Iron Man's armor, Thor's hammer, and only one of two foreigners entrusted with the Black Panther's technology. No wonder everyone loves Captain America so much!
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23. Wolverine can literally sense when someone's lying. He can also super easily identify shape-shifters.
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24. Captain America's shield can only be damaged on a molecular level because it's made of an adamantium/vibranium alloy.
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25. For everyone heartbroken when Gwen Stacy died in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, prepare for more heartbreak.
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There was debate over whether she met her end at the hands of the Green Goblin throwing her off the bridge or if it was Spider-Man's fault. It was eventually revealed that Spidey's web stopped her so suddenly that she was killed by a whiplash effect. :(
26. The Incredible Hulk was not originally the green giant we've come to know and love. He started out grey, but due to ink problems in printing, we have our green guy.
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27. Venom was originally written as a female character.
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Writer David Michelle was forced by his editor to alter the character's gender because "readers wouldn't see the woman as a physical threat" to Spidey. Rude.
28. Robert Downey Jr. gave a seven-year-old boy born with a partially developed arm a prosthetic modeled after his character's super-powered gauntlets.
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This, along with the incredibly generous and kind behavior of Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Andrew Garfield, et al, help to make these Marvel actors real life superheroes. And for that, we love them.
h/t @MarvelousFacts

GUYS. IT'S HERE! AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! The Avengers: Age of Ultron teaser trailer has officially been released (after leaking earlier on Thursday) and it looks incredible. Well worth the 3 years we will all have waited for it. Thank God we had Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor: The Dark World, and Iron Man 3 to hold us over. With extra love to Captain America. The trailer was released to an anticipating internet, with a whole catalog of different reactions: excitement, astoundment, speechlessness, critics, and just sheer happiness.
Watch the trailer here and decide for yourself what to think:
Obviously, people are very happy with it:
#AgeofUltron gonna be frkn epic. #lossforwords
— Fausto (@faustolozada) October 23, 2014
People were concerned by Andy Serkis:
Oh wait....... Now I notice that Andy Serkis is in #Avengers #AgeofUltron WHO THE HELL IS HE PLAYING?!
— Jeff Rothman (@amazingjr87) October 23, 2014
The trailer made some people emotional:
OMG AVENGERS #AgeofUltron OMG i am still crying even tho i watched the trailer for many times SOMEBODY HELP ME
— Nur Aini (@Aini_JJ) October 23, 2014
It made people's day (or year, if they're being honest):
Okay, NOW my day's been made!!! @Avengers #AgeofUltron
— Sean C. (@SeanCoff_96) October 23, 2014
Not everyone was a fan:
I have no clue whats going on with #AgeofUltron. I'm already over it. Get me the Daredevil remake, pip pip.
— CLM (@CassMcCarthy) October 23, 2014
Hater.
The #ageofultron isn't that bad nor is it that good. It's just sort of odd.
— Peter Georgiou (@Peterg_TMT) October 23, 2014
You're odd.
People realized that this movie is still so far away:
#AgeofUltron trailer looks so incredibly awesomely insanely awesome! May 2015, why you so far away?
— Ian Zunk (@IZunk92) October 23, 2014
That #Avengers trailer has me like where the hell is May?! #AgeofUltron
— Stephen Boundy (@boundyhunterr) October 23, 2014
People were already cracking jokes about the trailer leak:
Haha, @Marvel 's reaction to the @Avengers #AgeofUltron trailer leak! pic.twitter.com/z2Tpzche4q
— kaitlyn bullen. (@kabsteroriginal) October 23, 2014
People had important questions:
Are Clint and Tony wearing the same plaid shirt at different times in the trailer? #Avengers #AgeofUltron #importantquestions
— Rachael Robson (@redtannins) October 23, 2014
People questioned a shirtless Hemsworth:
Just gotta squeeze in that shirtless Chris Hemsworth, huh Marvel? #AgeofUltron
— bryun (@fuelbot) October 23, 2014
Don't ask. Just appreciate.
The trailer actually made people cry:
OMG AVENGERS #AgeofUltron OMG i am still crying even tho i watched the trailer for many times SOMEBODY HELP ME
— Nur Aini (@Aini_JJ) October 23, 2014
People are so ready to see Scarlet Witch (cause she's a BOSS):
Scarlet Witch looks interesting too.. She looked creepy as hell in the Winter Soldier post-credits teaser. #AgeofUltron
— Jason Chatfield (@Jason_Chatfield) October 23, 2014
Some people didn't even know what to say:
AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON AGE OF ULTRON
— Ben Gorniak (@GorniakBWLJ) October 23, 2014
People believe evil has been redefined:
I like how Ultron shows his supreme evilness by rocking two huge Bluetooth earpieces. #AgeofUltron pic.twitter.com/qW3KGsLA5D
— Ryan McGee (@TVMcGee) October 23, 2014
THIS:
FINALLY GETTING THE AGE OF ULTRON TRAILER LIKE pic.twitter.com/MhzM3BJJdg
— jess stan (@buckybarnes) October 22, 2014
Even better, there is this:
when age of ultron trailer released but u dead pic.twitter.com/lkgdJCK2p5
— tom hiddleston abby (@LokiOfFandoms) October 16, 2014
HELL YEAH, WE ARE READY!
GIPHY/Marvel Studios
How do you feel about the trailer? Tweet us your thoughts with the tag #AgeofUltron and tag @Hollywood_com!
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Nickelodeon
Assuming you were born around 1983 and that your social circle in the early grammar school years consisted of a rigidly impermeable foursome, we can conclude indisputably that you spent a good deal of your time playing Ninja Turtles. Unlike other pop culture-inspired imagination games, Ninja Turtles never allowed for turn taking as far as the central roles were concerned. Maybe you’d alternate occupancy of Luke, Han, and Chewy when playing Star Wars, or switch off between Margaret and Jimmy for games of Liquid Sky. But when it came to Ninja Turtles, the margins were set before recess even began: you were either the leader, the tough one, the smart one, or the goofball. Without exception.
But are such stark roles present in any other pop culture phenomena? We’d have to imagine so. As such, we sought to our favorite foursomes from the entertainment world and took a stab at assigning them their respective Ninja Turtles.
SEINFELD
LeonardoJerry, the leader (who, incidentally, derives all of his moral fiber from the noble Superman)
RaphaelGeorge, the truly "dark and disturbed" member of the group
DonatelloElaine, the intellectual — she did graduate from Tufts (her safety school), and she scored a 151 on an I.Q. test
MichelangeloKramer, the hipster dufus
THE HOGWARTS HOUSES
LeonardoGryffindor, house of the daring and noble
RaphaelSlytherin, house of the severe and ambitious
DonatelloRavenclaw, house of the wry and intellectual
MichelangeloHufflepuff, house of the spirited and kind
SEX AND THE CITY
LeonardoCarrie, the glue, the narrator and the center of everyone's attention
RaphaelMiranda, stubborn and cynical enough to walk away from the love of her life (twice!)
DonatelloCharlotte, the conservative, overachieving Ivy League grad obsessed with everything appearing perfect
MichelangeloSamantha, who has never passed up a chance to see and be seen
United Artist via Everett Collection
THE BEATLES
LeonardoPaul: "Think globally, act locally."
RaphaelJohn: "Everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground."
DonatelloGeorge: "When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there."
MichelangeloRingo: "Peace and love. Peace and love."
THE AVENGERS
LeonardoCaptain America, the wholesome, morally didactic good guy
RaphaelThe Hulk, the "muscle" who is tortured by his own demons
DonatelloIron Man, the tech genius who never hesitates to let his teammates know how much smarter he is than they are
MichelangeloThor, who's just kind of an idiot
DAWSON'S CREEK
LeonardoDawson, proving that having your name in the title doesn't save you from being the biggest buzzkill
RaphaelPacey, the rebellious, wise-cracking screw up of your teenage dreams
DonatelloJoey, smart - she went to Worthington! - sweet, and innocent, and always likely to end up in a bad situation
MichelangeloJen, the reformed party girl with a heart of gold and a chip on her shoulder
LITTLE WOMEN
LeonardoMeg, the oldest sister and de facto head of the household
RaphaelJo, strong-willed and at odds with her siblings (and herself)
DonatelloBeth, who is shy, wise, and musically adept
MichelangeloAmy, the li'l one with the penchant for art
Columbia Pictures via Everett Collection
THE GHOSTBUSTERS
LeonardoRay, the heart and soul of the group
RaphaelPeter Venkman, the rebel who plays by his own rules (and forces everyone else to accommodate)
DonatelloEgon Spengler, the smartest in a team of scientists
MichelangeloWinston, who is also there
THE MT. RUSHMORE PRESIDENTS
LeonardoGeorge Washington, the diplomat who kicked off American democracy
RaphaelAbraham Lincoln, the agonizingly depressed hero who took to the front lines
DonatelloThomas Jefferson, the braniac wordsmith who wrote the Declaration of Independence
MichelangeloTheodore Roosevelt, the loon who used to fight bears and whatnot
GOLDEN GIRLS
LeonardoBlanche, the open-minded, creative sort
RaphaelSophia, a master of caustic wit
DonatelloDorothy, the smartest of the lot
MichelangeloRose, the ditz
THE FACTS OF LIFE
LeonardoBlair, who was rich and blond, so she was the natural choice for the central role in an '80s sitcom
RaphaelJo, who wears a leather jacket
DonatelloNatalie, who basically acts like she's 40 at age 15
MichelangeloTootie, who wears rollerskates all the time
20th Century Fox Film via Everett Collection
THE FANTASTIC FOUR
LeonardoSue Storm, the levelheaded voice of reason
RaphaelThe Thing, who is, as one might expect, pretty pissed about being a giant rock
DonatelloMr. Fantastic, the hyper-intellectual
MichelangeloJohnny Storm, the jag who's always jumping around and lighting stuff on fire, because he thinks it's cool
STAND BY ME
LeonardoGordie, the courageous leader
RaphaelChris, the young punk who has stolen his share of milk money
DonatelloVern, the timid perpetual bullying victim
MichelangeloTeddy, the kooky thrill-seeker
GIRLS
LeonardoHannah, who at the very least sees herself as a well-adjusted leader of mankind
RaphaelJessa, the alleged loose cannon who is riddled with dark passengers
DonatelloMarnie, the uptight would-be sophisticate who tries to manufacture life experience by the book
MichelangeloShoshanna, the young nutter butter who garners the least respect
ROCKET POWER
LeonardoReggie Rocket, the smart, even-tempered overachiever
RaphaelOtto Rocket, the troublesome bad boy
DonatelloSam Dullard, the awkward intellectual
MichelangeloTwister Rodriguez, the idiot comic relief
Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
MEAN GIRLS
LeonardoCady Heron, the acceptable human being
RaphaelRegina George, the villainous upstart
DonatelloGretchen Wieners, kind of just by default
MichelangeloKaren Smith... see "Thor"
THE SWEATHOGS
LeonardoVinnie Barbarino, the boring (albeit charming) leader
RaphaelJuan Epstein, the tough guy with whom everybody knows not to mess
DonatelloArnold Horshach, the dorky dweeb
MichelangeloBoom Boom Washington, the loudmouthed goofball
A special thanks to writers Angie Han (an easygoing Michelangelo type) and Rudie Obias (a total Raphael, with respect) for helping to mastermind this piece, and to everyone else who contributed their varied expertise to the cause.
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Walt Disney Studios/Marvel
Almost immediately upon exiting my screening of Guardians of the Galaxy, I was hit by a friend and fellow movies writer with the inevitable question: "Better than The Avengers?" Even though Guardians is less a superhero movie than a space adventure, the new release is bound to win (or suffer) comparison to the 2012 hit that broke box office records and redefined the possibility of the already prosperous comic book feature.
But it's no easy question to tackle — is Guardians of the Galaxy (which is great) better than The Avengers (which is great)? I'm still not sure. But when you allocate the debate toward specific elements braved by the films, you close in on something resembling an answer. So here we go. Which movie is better in terms of...
Action?The Avengers. James Gunn is still new to the blockbuster game, and needs to work out a few bugs in his action sequence methodology. Joss Whedon, though generally more of a small-scale player himself, showcased some pretty stellar sequences in '12.
Characters?Guardians of the Galaxy. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket, and Groot are not simply snappy vehicles driving us toward exciting set pieces. They and their pangs (and quirks) are the sincere core and draw of this story. You'll be surprised at how much empathy a misanthropic raccoon can command.
Villain?The Avengers, in a big way. Loki was the virtual highlight of his movie, while Guardians' Ronan the Accuser is a moreover anonymous figure that simply spouts colorless threats of tyranny.
Performances?Kind of a toss-up. In Guardians, Chris Pratt is a standout as hero Star-Lord, Dave Bautista is a surprisingly charismatic Drax, and Bradley Cooper and (especially) Vin Diesel managed some pretty impressive vocal charms as Rocket and Groot, respectively. But we'd be remiss to forget how inviting the snarky Robert Downey Jr., caustic Scarlett Johansson, brooding Mark Ruffalo, and flamboyantly wicked Tom Hiddleston all were.
Humor?Guardians of the Galaxy. Yes, The Avengers had terrific moments of comic relief, but these were peppered delicately throughout a tense (albeit joyful) action-adventure movie. Guardians is as much a comedy as it is a genre picture, and its material is sharp and wry.
Coherency?The Avengers. Whedon's flick is astoundingly neat and well-packaged for how grand (and kooky) it is. Guardians' biggest mis-step is probably is clumsy construction.
Special Effects?The Avengers, thanks once again to experience... and an extra $50 million in budget.
Thrills?Probably, again, The Avengers, though not by a wide margin. Something about Whedon's sleek design, meticulous plotting, and an everpresent severity made the whole thing seem a little more gasp-worthy.
Je ne sais quoi?Guardians of the Galaxy. The real victory of Gunn's new film is its spirit, its warm and inviting personal touch. It might have its bugs, but the tidy perfection of The Avengers wouldn't have been appropriate for a film of its theme and motives. Overall, we'd champion Guardians as our preferred Marvel adventure for this reason alone: it's got that special heart that doesn't come around to big budget blockbusters all too often.
But don't just take our word for it. Sound off below!

Marvel
Just when you thought Marvel couldn’t possibly have anything left to announce after last week’s revelations about Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers: Age of Ultron, the studio took advantage of everyone’s lowered guard on Friday night to unveil the release dates of five new films (via The Playlist). Though the dates are just placeholders at the moment, it does show that Marvel has enough confidence in their blockbusters and the mapped-out future of their cinematic universe to plan out releases through to 2019. The studio has yet to drop any hints as to the identities of these scheduled films – though they are expected to make some major announcements at this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con – but that hasn’t stopped fans and critics speculating as to when we will next see some of our favorite superheroes.
We do know that one of those dates will belong to the third installment of the Avengers films, which will mark the end of the studio’s third phase of films, and bring the first major, overarching storylines to an end. Other slots are rumored to belong to the third Thor and Avengers films, and while those are likely guesses, we can’t help but hope that some of those proposed dates might be reserved for something different, something even more exciting than the follow-up to the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D. or the rising threat of Thanos. We already know that after Age of Ultron drops in May of 2015, we’ll finally get Ant-Man two months later, and Captain America 3 in 2016, but we have some ideas for what we’d like to see Marvel release in the following few years, along with what we think they actually will release.
July 8, 2016 What We’d Like: A Black Widow film. Of all the possible female-fronted superhero films that Marvel could make, Black Widow seems most likely to get the first one. After all, Scarlett Johansson has been part of the MCU for years now, and her character has become a fan favorite, as well as an integral part of the Avengers team. 2016 would be the perfect time for her to finally get a solo film, since the effects of Captain America: The Winter Soldier would still be rippling through the universe, and whatever happens in Age of Ultron is likely to raise the stakes of Natasha’s past being revealed even further. What We’ll Probably Get: The first installment in the Dr. Strange franchise. The film already has a director lined up and the lead is expected to be announced at Comic-Con, so it seems as if the wheels for this one are steadily in motion. The release of Ant-Man in 2015 will mark Marvel’s shift towards a new group of characters and a new phase of the MCU, so it would make sense that they would want to roll out new heroes together.
May 5, 2017 What We’d Like: If Marvel’s planning to unveil their new characters together, this would be the time to make a Black Panther movie. The studio has been rumored to be planning one for several years now, with everyone from Idris Elba and Falcon himself, Anthony Mackie, rumored to be in talks for the lead role. Marvel’s also expected to make some kind of announcement about the film this weekend, which means that a possible 2017 release date isn’t entirely out of the question. And since T’Challa is such a major force in the comics, it would be the perfect time to integrate him into the universe. What We’ll Probably Get: It’s got to be Thor 3. Thanks to the massive success of last year’s Iron Man 3, May seems to be the best time for Marvel to roll out the third installments in their franchises. They’ve already got Captain America scheduled for the spring of 2016, and since both that film and Thor 3 are likely to have major impacts on the third Avengers, this seems to be a great spot to allow the after-effects to really resonate.
July 28, 2017 What We’d Like: Guardians of the Galaxy 2. We know that the first one hasn’t even hit theaters yet, but we’re incredibly excited to see this merry band of misfits to team up and protect the galaxy. Saving the second for 2017 would make it the perfect halfway point between Age of Ultron and the third Avengers film, much like how the studio lined up the first Guardians of the Galaxy to bridge the gap between the first two Avengers films. It should also provide a nice break from the characters in the Avengers, since most of them are likely to get solo films of their own in the intervening years (sorry, Hawkeye). What We’ll Probably Get: Guardians of the Galaxy 2 seems like a safe bet for the summer of 2017. Plus, if the first film does well after its August 1 release, it would make sense for Marvel to hold the second one to the end of the summer, much like how they’re filling the spring with threequels.
Marvel
November 3, 2017 What We’d Like: Captain Marvel is long overdue for entry into the film universe. November would be the perfect time for Carol Danvers to make her big screen debut, especially since female-fronted action films have done extremely well there in recent years with The Hunger Games trilogy. There would be a bit less competition there than a summer release date would have, which might make a hesitant studio much more likely to take a chance on a new property. Plus, it would allow her to interact with the Guardians of the Galaxy – her powers come from an interaction with a Kree alien, which would make more sense in that universe than the Avengers’ – which would give those films the same kind of continuity that the Avengers films have. What We’ll Probably Get: Third time’s the charm right? That will probably be the rationale behind the Planet Hulk movie that will most likely hit in November of 2017. Mark Ruffalo has dropped a lot of hints about the possibility of a Hulk solo film, and Marvel is rumored to be making some kind of announcement about it this weekend, so it wouldn’t be a total shock if the studio decided to take on more chance on the big green guy.
July 6, 2018 What We’d Like: If there’s any time to test out a possible Young Avengers film, the summer of 2018 would be the best time to do so. Sure, part of us just wants to see Kate Bishop and co. sass people while saving the world, but it would also be pretty easy to build the Young Avengers into the MCU, thanks to the Netflix series that will introduce Jessica Jones, who first discovers the team. It would also allow them to introduce new characters that could be incorporated into the third Avengers film, or even set up their possible takeover of the MCU after Phase 3 is complete. What We’ll Probably Get: Though many are predicting that this is when Marvel would roll out a potential Black Widow movie, it seems a bit more likely to be a sequel slot. The most likely candidate would be Ant-Man 2, since the first one will hit theaters in July of 2015, which would give the studio plenty of time to work out a creative team – and if it has any of the issues the first one did, they’ll need that extra time – and the impact the character will have on the third Avengers film. Ant-Man is a goofier superhero, so a summer release seems like a solid fit for the follow-up film.
November 2, 2018 What We’d Like: There are a few possibilities we’d be open to for the fall of 2018; it would be a good time to roll out a Black Panther 2 or a Captain Marvel 2, since, in a perfect world, those characters would have movies by then, and also be playing a significant part in the MCU. We’d also take a Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch spinoff film, although that might be a bit difficult for Marvel to work out; the characters are being split between the MCU and the X-Men universes, and contract issues might prohibit them from being the leads in their own film. What We’ll Probably Get: If July gets the Ant-Man sequel, expect November 2018 to be all about Dr. Strange 2. The timing would be right, especially if he’s going to be joining the Avengers for their third outing, and as Thor: The Dark World proved, the fall is a good time for superhero blockbusters that deal with a bit more magic, mysticism and planet-hopping than their summer counterparts do.
May 3, 2019 What We’d Like: There’s only one option for the final open slot: Avengers 3. Like we said earlier, May is the perfect time for Marvel to release its threequels, and May would be the perfect time of year to wrap up the third phase of the MCU, as it would leave them the option to release something from outside this particular continuity in the summer – like a third Guardians of the Galaxy – or to simply leave the summer months alone so that fans can really soak in the actions and consequences of the third Avengers film, and since Marvel’s the kind of studio to go out with a bang, they’ll probably need all the recovery time they can get. What We’ll Probably Get: This is definitely the slot for Avengers 3. Nothing else would even remotely make sense here, and we’re completely happy with that.
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Paramount Pictures via Everett Collection
Summer blockbuster season is officially upon us, and you can't have a summer blockbuster without a proper action hero. After all, someone needs to stare into the distance with grim determination, crack jokes in the middle of a tense fight, run in slow motion away from an explosion, and make audiences everywhere swoon over the silhouette of their perfect profile in the sunset. 2014 has its own crop of actors competing for our affections and wallets, all of them hoping to be the next big movie star. But which one is truly the most heroic? Who stands triumphant over his fallen comrades as the best action hero of the year?
The Ones We've Seen:
Mark Wahlberg, Transformers: Age of Extinction Who He’s Playing: Cade Yaeger, a struggling inventor who stumbles across and injure Optimus Prime and restores him to health. Strengths: No matter what he’s in, Wahlberg gives off an intimidating vibe – he seems like the kind of guy who would punch a giant robot in the face without thinking twice about it – but he’s also able to give whichever tough guy he’s playing this time some charm. Wahlberg isn’t afraid of anything, especially not the rules of logic that state a born and bred Texan shouldn’t speak like he grew up in Boston. Weaknesses: It’s a Transformers film, so ultimately, character is less important than robots punching each other. Wahlberg doesn’t get a lot to work with here, but he doesn’t seem to put in enough work to make Cade anything other than a generic tough guy. He could be giving this same performance in basically any action movie.
Tom Cruise, Edge of Tomorrow Who He’s Playing: Major William Cage, a solider in the United Defense Forces who goes back in time to one day in particular every time he dies. Strengths: Everyone knows that Cruise can perform impressive stunts or drive alien spaceships with ease, but Edge of Tomorrow brought back a side of the actor that we haven’t seen in a while, something that was dearly missed in many of his recent blockbusters. We are, of course, talking about his ability to play a complete jackass better than almost anyone in Hollywood. As Cage, Cruise was sarcastic, rude, obnoxious and more charming than he’s been in years, and it felt like a proper return to his former action hero glory. Weaknesses: Once he stops being so obnoxious, we like him less, and the movie suffers for it. Plus, all of the charm in the world isn’t able to distract us from how awkward Cruise looks in the battle skeleton, which seems uncomfortable and unwieldy.
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, X-Men: Days of Future Past Who They’re Playing: Professor X and Magneto, of course. Strengths: One of the things that make the X-Men movies so great is the chemistry between Professor X and Magneto, and McAvoy and Fassbender have it in spades. Every time these two are onscreen together it’s exciting, which makes them one of the best action hero teams around. They also bring a sense of gravitas and depth to their characters, rather than just letting the stunts and effects carry the film, which makes their characters and relationship even more compelling, and the X-Men films as a whole more enjoyable. McAvoy’s drunk, depressed Charles is a tour de force performance that you’re unlikely to see in most summer blockbusters. Weaknesses: As interesting as they are together, their performances can easily get lost in the complicated plot and cast of thousands. Sure, McAvoy and Fassbender are brilliant together, but when you left the theater, the only person you were still talking about was Quicksilver.
Chris Evans, Captain America: The Winter Soldier Who He’s Playing: Captain America, duh. Strengths: A lot of the time, people seem to think that Cap is a dull, by-the-book, overly-serious character who’s focused on nothing but rules and easily confused by technology. But Evans gives him dimension, charm and the kind of biting wit that is normally associated with Tony Stark. He easily carries the film with his performance, which is by turns sympathetic, intense, and incredibly hilarious, and he managed to make the most impressive, complicated stunts look simple and graceful. Plus, he has the best profile of anyone on this list, and everyone knows an action hero is nothing without a strong jawline. Weaknesses: As charismatic as Evans is, Cap often gets overlooked in favor of the more dramatic or hilarious characters, like the Winter Soldier or Falcon, since they’re a bit flashier.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Godzilla Who He’s Playing: Ford Brody, a US soldier specializing in EODs. Strengths: Like Wahlberg, Taylor-Johnson looks like an action hero. He’s got the steely gaze, the clenched jaw and the trademark action hero biceps, all of which help him come across as a tough, capable soldier. He’s best in the quieter moments when Ford is reuniting with his family or connecting with his father or comforting a lost child on the train, which gives him a bit more depth and charm than the average hero. Weaknesses: Unfortunately, that’s the only thing that Ford Brody has going for him. He’s rather generic, staring out at monsters with a blank face and getting little to do other than running from disaster to disaster. If only Godzilla had realized that Ken Watanabe was the real protagonist of the film; maybe then Ford wouldn’t seem so bland.
Marvel Studios
The Ones We Haven’t:
Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy Who He’s Playing: Peter Quill a.k.a. Star Lord, a pilot and thief who teams up with a band of misfits in order to protect the galaxy. Strengths: As anyone who has ever seen a single episode of Parks and Recreation can attest, Pratt basically radiates charm. He’s funny, he’s warm, he’s likable and if the trailer is any indication, he can kick some serious butt as well. A goofy action comedy is the perfect vehicle for Pratt, and the combination of his comedic chops and his natural gift with stunts (he does every single one of Andy Dwyer’s pratfalls himself) should be enough to turn him into a proper movie star. Weaknesses: Pratt might be just a touch too goofy to be taken seriously as an action hero. Sure, he’s tall and buff, but he seems more likely to hug your than punch you, which might make it difficult for audiences to see him as a tough, intimidating superhero.
Andy Serkis, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Who He’s Playing: Caesar, the Simian ruler of the new nation of Apes that has taken over the planet. Strengths: We might have to wait until July 11 to see Serkis in action, but we did manage to get a good impression of the character in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Serkis is wonderful at communicating Caesar’s thoughts and ideas even without words, which gives him the advantage of not having to deal with the typical cheesy action movie dialogue, and his performance is intense and intimidating. Weaknesses: It might be a challenge for universal audiences to connect with an ape the same way that they would a human, but Serkis proved in Rise that he can instill Caesar with plenty of empathy. Now able to speak, we imagine he'll top even himself.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Hercules Who He’s Playing: Hercules. Who else would The Rock play? Strengths: Despite his intimidating size, Johnson is an incredibly goofy, charismatic guy, and he’s generally very good a bringing that to the characters he plays. An ideal Hercules would blend the action and heroics with enough charm to make us care about him and root for him, and if there’s one thing that Johnson is good at, it’s winning over an audience. Weaknesses: Hercules has to follow the dismal Legend of Hercules and Pompeii, so Johnson is under a lot of pressure to create a charming, likable, interesting character in order to avoid being lumped in with the rest of them. That’s a big challenge for his first proper action hero role, and the trailer seems to give off a dismal, serious vibe, so he’ll have a lot working against him.
Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Who She’s Playing: Lucy, a woman with the ability to access and control her brain’s full potential, which gives her the ability to control the world around her. Strengths: With experience as both a leading lady and a superhero, Johansson should have no trouble blending both to create an exciting, original character. As Lucy, she gives off a strong, independent vibe that’s at once intimidating and compelling. And we already know that Johansson’s able to inject a healthy dose of charm into whoever she’s playing, so it seems like Lucy might just beat the boys at their own game. Weaknesses: She’s got a complex, convoluted plot to contend with, which means she’ll need to spend a lot of time rattling off exposition. That takes away from the time the audience spends getting to know the character, and if Johansson doesn’t make it interesting enough, it could keep them from connecting with Lucy.
Alan Ritchson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, and Pete Plozek, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Who They’re Playing: Ritchson is Raphael, Fisher is Michelangelo, Howard is Donatello and Plozek will be playing Leonardo, although his voice will be dubbed over by Johnny Knoxville. Strengths: They’re all practically unknown, which means that audiences don’t quite know what to expect from them – a fact which the Turtles themselves would no doubt use to their advantage. The most recognizable of the bunch is Fisher, whose role as Mickey Milkovich on Shameless has proven that he’s a talented actor who brings a lot of depth and layers to his characters. He turned one of the show’s bullies into one of its heroes, which bodes well for his ability to connect with an audience. Weaknesses: The Turtles themselves are CGI, and since the trailer promises weird, slightly freaky-looking creatures, it’s going to be a challenge for them to give a compelling performance through all of the effects. Since they themselves will be unrecognizable, it’s going to be harder for them to win over the audience and get them to root for these characters.
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British actor Luke Evans is planning to step behind the camera to make his directorial debut with a new short film. The Clash of the Titans star reveals he is currently working on the as-yet-untitled movie's script with pal Chris Chibnall, who penned his BBC drama The Great Train Robbery, and Evans is keen to bring the story to life himself.
He tells Collider.com, "I'm trying to sort out a short film that I'm writing with a friend of mine, which I would like to direct for my own self, really.
"I think it'll probably end up being about a 20-minute film. I'm not exactly sure, because we haven't totally finished the script yet."
Evans adds, "Directing is something I've always felt like I'd like to do at one point and I thought the best way to start is to write something myself or with someone and I'd go from there. My own material."
He is hoping to draw from his own experiences working with the likes of Peter Jackson on The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug to turn his first project as director into a success.
Evans says, "I guess once you've been acting for a long time you glean the great bits of good directors and the bad bits from other directors and you know the way that you would like to be directed. Look at Clint Eastwood, for example. There's a lot of directors who were actors, so they have the sensibility of an actor, which sometimes helps."

Walt Disney Studios
When you think about it, superheroes can be a pretty fickle bunch. Through several decades of comic books and the dozens of comic book films released over the years, it's become abundantly clear that there's no such thing as a binding alliance. Comic book characters switch over the moral dividing line so often that keeping track of it all can be headache-enducing, a fact that one Captain America knows all too well. In the upcoming sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Cap sees himself facing off against an old friend, and in his honor, we've decided to list our favorite comic book movie frienemies.
Harry Osborne and Peter Parker (Spider-Man)High school best buds turned mortal foes, Peter Parker and Harry Osborne are the original frenemies. When Harry discovers that Spider-Man killed his father Norman (the OG Green Goblin), and later finds out that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, the news sets him on a raging path of revenge. Harry picks up the mantle of the Green Goblin and tries to put a stop to the webslinger's heroics once and for all.
Loki and Thor (Thor)Being second sucks, doesn't it? Brothers Thor and Loki were always thick as thieves, but under the surface, certain injustices began to slowly gnaw away at their friendship. Jealousy over Thor's birthright plus the discovery of his true frost-giant origins were enough to send the already mischievous Loki into full villain mode.
Dr. Connors and Peter Parker (The Amazing Spider-Man)Peter Parker and Dr. Connors had a budding Teacher/protege relationship in The Amazing Spider-Man, but Connors was slowly driven crazy by his limb re-growth serum and becomes the Lizard. When the Lizard decides to turn the whole of New York into gigantic reptilian creatures, Spidey had to take the respected scientist down.
Andrew, Matt, and Steve (Chronicle)There's nothing like finding alien superpowers to make a friendship stronger. In Max Landis' Chronicle, Andrew, Matt and Steve bond after accidentally obtaining powers, but Andrew gets consumed by his new found abilities and his terrible home life. After possibly killing Steve, Andrew goes on a rampage through the streets of Seattle, and it's up to Matt to stop him before more people get hurt.
Todd and Dave (Kick-Ass 2)In the sequel to Kick-Ass, the eponymous hero continues to wage his inept war against crime, but when his best friend Todd feels left out of the superheroics, he almost unwittingly becomes a henchmen of Christopher Mintz-Plasse's The Motherfu****, and inadvertantly get's Kick-Ass' father killed. Things between the two are reconciled at the end, but there are some things you probably shouldn't forgive.
Magneto and Professor X (X-Men: First Class)Did I say Harry and Peter were the original frenemies? Nope, that honor clearly goes to Magneto and Professor X. While Erik Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier were originally united in their fight for Mutant rights in the 60's, Professor X sought more peaceful methods, while Magneto was very much an ends-justifies-the-means type of guy, and the two have been at each others throats ever since. They still have mutual respect and affection for one another, but it's buried under years of hate.
Mystique and Professor X (X-Men: First Class)Wait, hold on. Did I say Magneto and Professor X were the original frienemies? Well, according to X-Men: First Class, the good Professor knew Mystique back when they were both children. The two were basically siblings growing up until Raven started to side with Magneto's more forceful ideas about Mutant rights.
Harvey Dent and Bruce Wayne (Batman Forever)Harvey Dent was a by-the-books district attorney that protected Gotham with law and order, while allowing Batman clean up whatever scum slipped out of the court and onto the streets. Their tag-team was broken up when Dent's face was burned by a disgruntled crime boss in the middle of a court proceeding, and Dent is driven insane by his disfigurement, becoming the villain Two Face.
Sabertooth and Wolverine (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)Bound by blood and death, Wolverine and Sabertooth were half-brothers that spent the better part of two centuries fighting through American military conflicts across the globe. After being recruited by William Stryker to join a group of mutant military group called Team X and carrying out some wet work on behalf of the government, Logan leaves the team, feeling dismayed by all of the killing, and Sabertooth sees this as the ultimate betrayal.
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Marvel Studios
It's almost summertime, which can only mean one thing: time for all of our favorite superheroes to return to the big screen. Over the next five months, Avengers, web-slingers, space bandits, and two different sets of mutants will arrive in theaters to entertain you with exciting new movies. But with so many coming out in such a short period of time, it can be hard to decide which ones to commit to. Do you go for the classic comic book appeal of Spider-Man, or take a chance on the weird goofiness of Guardians of the Galaxy? Do you see a new twist on a familiar face with Captain America or watch the Ninja Turtles make the jump from Saturday morning staple to blockbuster stars? Or do you just give in to the hero-packed, time-travelling insanity of the new X-Men?
It's a difficult decision, one that carries almost as much weight as the knowledge of which Ninja Turtle best fits your personality. After all, you don't want to be stuck with an adaptation you don't like, or a hero whose code of honor doesn't appeal to you. Luckily, we've created a handy guide to help you determine which 2014 superhero film is perfect for you, based on several key personality traits. You'll never have to worry about wasting popcorn or ticket money on the wrong superhero film again.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier Set a year after the events of The Avengers, Steve Rogers is living in Washington DC and learning to adjust to the modern world. However, when a colleague’s life is put in danger, he’s forced to shake off assassins, villains, and the mysterious Soviet agent known as The Winter Soldier in order to uncover a vast conspiracy. Opens April 4. What You Were Like as a Kid: You were a complete goody two-shoes, and were constantly worried about doing the right thing. You were never shy about calling out cheaters or line-cutters, even if it meant you would be branded a tattle-tale. Much to your friends’ annoyance, you always made an effort to include everyone in your games, and you always let people’s younger siblings stay at bat until they hit the ball. In high school, you were captain of the baseball team, and your probably ruined the grading curve for everyone. What You Wanted to Be When You Grew Up: President of the United States. Or a firefighter, since you dressed as one for four Halloweens in a row. Fictional Character You Idolize: Coach Eric Taylor from Friday Night Lights. He’s a leader, he’s a family man, he stands up for what’s right, and he fights for the underdog. “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” is basically your mantra. Favorite Non-Superhero Film: Miracle. A story of determination, teamwork, good leadership, and overcoming insurmountable odds, with a little bit of patriotism thrown in for good measure.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Peter Parker is attempting to balance his personal life and his secret alter ego, but everything is thrown into disarray with the return of an old friend, Henry Osborn, and the emergence of new villains that might be stronger than he imagined. However, he soon discovers that all of his enemies have something to do with Oscorp, which may lead to a shocking discovery about his parents' death. Opens May 2. What You Were Like as a Kid: Rather than hanging out with a large group of friends, you pretty much stuck with one partner-in-crime. You managed to hide your mischievous side pretty well, which came in handy whenever you got into trouble (which was more often than you'd like to admit.) You were curious about everything, and you were constantly conducting "science experiments" and sneaking into places you shouldn't be for the sake of adventure. There weren't many things that scared you or freaked you out, and so you took a lot of risks and climbed a lot of trees. You were probably one of those kids who brought home random animals once a week as pets. What You Wanted to Be When You Grew Up: A scientist, a pilot, or a veterinarian. Or, ideally, some terrifying combination of all three. Fictional Character You Idolize: Abed Nadir from Community. Nobody really understands him, but he's smart, confident, and is never afraid of whatever strange, exciting adventure comes his way. Favorite Non-Superhero Film: The first three Indiana Jones films. An archaeologist who gets to travel to exotic locations, fight bad guys and be unbelievably cool? Sold.
Marvel Studios
X-Men: Days of Future Past When the entire mutant species is threatened with extinction, Wolverine must go into the past in order to help mend the broken relationship between Professor X and Magneto, and convince them to join with their future selves in order to stop a war before it even begins. Opens May 23. What You Were Like as a Kid: You were definitely the weird kid growing up, and you only surrounded yourself with other weirdos. You were never afraid to stand up for yourself against bullies who picked on your or your friends. You stayed up late on the weekends to watch scary movies, and you probably tried to make some horror/superhero movie hybrids in your backyard. You were the kind of kid who would collect bugs and worms to scare the other kids in your class with, and you always wanted to have a pet snake or tarantula. What You Wanted to Be When You Grew Up: Something creative, like a writer, director, or musician. Fictional Character You Idolize: Daria. You're the kind of person who admires wit above all else, looked down on everyone you went to school with and you can't remember the last time you said something that wasn't sarcastic. Favorite Non-Superhero Film: Edward Scissorhands. The weird, creepy outcast defeats the bullies, wins over Winona Ryder, finds a family who love and accept him and lives in a castle.
Guardians of the Galaxy Pilot Peter Quill accidentally finds himself being hunted by intergalactic forces after he steals a valuable relic that belongs to the evil Ronan the Accuser. In order to take him down, he teams up with a group of misfits — murderous Rocket Racoon, the strong, almost silent Groot, Drax the Destroyer, and former assassin Gamora — to make one final stand against the villain and protect the universe. Opens August 1.What You Were Like as a Kid: You were the class clown, always willing to make a fool of yourself in order to get a laugh. You were often sent to the principal's office for disrupting class, but everyone wanted you to play with them at recess. You pulled pranks on almost everybody, even though they weren't very successful, and you considered yourself to be something of an evil genius. You had a pet who was endlessly loyal to you, but hated every other person on the planet. You probably got things stuck up your nose a lot. What You Wanted to Be When You Grew Up: An astronaut, even though you wouldn't really get to fight aliens. Fictional Character You Idolize: Han Solo, the coolest, smoothest, most sarcastic smuggler in galaxies both near and far. And he marries a princess, so he's basically living the dream. Favorite Non-Superhero Movie: 21 Jump Street, because it combines your favorite things: comedy, action and two enthusiastic, if unprofessional, cops becoming major heroes.
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesAfter Shredder and his evil henchmen take control of the city and wreak havoc, four brothers rise from the sewers in order ot become the world's most unlikely superheroes. Alongside fearless reporter April O'Neill and her team, they must stop Shredder and restore order to the city. Opens August 8. What You Were Like as a Kid: You were often described as being “spirited” or “a handful.” You were usually pretty hyper, and you spent a lot of time running around with a gang of friends, pulling pranks and having adventures. You’ve never been able to turn down a dare, and you were always willing to risk getting hurt or getting into trouble if it meant doing something crazy and fun. You lied and told everyone that you had a black belt in karate, and you probably spent far too much time in the Emergency Room. What You Wanted to be When You Grew Up: A Ninja Turtle, and you’re still a little heartbroken that dream hasn't yet come true.Fictional Character You Idolize: Spinelli from Recess, who was tough, funny, stood up for the little guy, and was never afraid to be herself. Truly, a hero of Saturday morning cartoons. Favorite Non-Superhero Movie: Hot Fuzz. It's funny, it's action-packed, it's violent, it's a little weird and it pays homage to the classic action movies that have come before it, which means it's technically educational as well.
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